tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4406619839841800067.post6150038850280157728..comments2024-03-28T00:14:47.581-07:00Comments on Dawlish Chronicles : The painful transition from Sail to SteamAntoine Vannerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00490972848447907013noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4406619839841800067.post-62123367618887651802015-02-25T09:08:39.572-08:002015-02-25T09:08:39.572-08:00David: We'll be looking forward to your insig...David: We'll be looking forward to your insights from it!Antoine Vannerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00490972848447907013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4406619839841800067.post-11830022010779612202015-02-25T09:07:56.010-08:002015-02-25T09:07:56.010-08:00Carl: I'm reminded of one of the more extreme ...Carl: I'm reminded of one of the more extreme threats in the Old Testament (from Kings) "My father has scourged you with whips but I will scourge you with scorpions" (Rehobmoan)! A basilisk might have done just as well.Antoine Vannerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00490972848447907013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4406619839841800067.post-31864842206838352122015-02-25T04:27:36.373-08:002015-02-25T04:27:36.373-08:00Meantime I noted that the ship was HMS Basilisk. I...Meantime I noted that the ship was HMS Basilisk. I thought to myself, "how many people know what a Basilisk really is?" My love of things archaic came to the rescue. He is mentioned on page 189 in Sir Christian de Galis and the Fish Gravy where the heroine humorously provides a list of medieval monsters to watch for during a lecture on the proper way to scout up front on a quest. Back to point, Basilisk means "Little King," and refers to a monster half-a-foot-long that can kill by looking at a victim (which makes it similar in that characteristic to the cockatrice). One Bestiary in my library by Richard Barber says it is mentioned in Psalm 91:13 (in place of cobra). Awe, the rabbit trails a classically trained US Marine might descent by merely looking at the name of a British warship. Don't even get me stated on HMS Serapis. Regards, Antoine.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08538035338431152912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4406619839841800067.post-77046246010766386282015-02-25T01:44:47.932-08:002015-02-25T01:44:47.932-08:00Carl and Robert: Both your comments are thought pr...Carl and Robert: Both your comments are thought provoking for any technically or scientifically-based organisation. I recognise the validity from by own 37 years in the international oil industry. Getting the balance between "feel" for all factors - including the "soft" ones of leadership, negotiation, alliance-building and man-management - and the hard technical disciplines is an endless one. I came with rigorous academic qualifications which benefited me in a very wide variety of responsibilities and challenges, but the most valuable lessons were leaned in the swamp and bush in West Africa in my younger years where living somewhat roughly, dealing with local people at every level, and finding that, come-what-may, solutions had to be found and implemented, was the most important of all. I'm afraid many senior executives never learn them. A lot of the opposition, ill-founded, that big-business of all kinds face is brought on themselves by inattention to finding the balance.Antoine Vannerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00490972848447907013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4406619839841800067.post-41164815695229729592015-02-25T01:43:27.497-08:002015-02-25T01:43:27.497-08:00I've just managed to get hold of a copy "...I've just managed to get hold of a copy "Two Admirals", it promises to be a very interesting read.David Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12284071323385164651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4406619839841800067.post-61878391253939142912015-02-24T22:13:38.153-08:002015-02-24T22:13:38.153-08:00Philosophies re training and customs do evolve and...Philosophies re training and customs do evolve and vary over the years. For instance, in Cold War RN boats the engineers were specialists, as opposed to the more generalist seamen officers who navigated and did other executive-type functions; while in US submarines the officers were cross-trained to do all jobs.Robert Mackayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11861916864219637155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4406619839841800067.post-76958278628753116292015-02-24T15:21:18.891-08:002015-02-24T15:21:18.891-08:00As a US Marine veteran I notice that technical cha...As a US Marine veteran I notice that technical changes are constant, but at any given time there is a significant percentage not able or willing to use the newest tools. There also is a cost factor and a learning curve. However, the most effective military education would have to include the best of the old with the more effective of the new. I will use knowing how to tie knots an example. Incidentally, the bet knots used by sailors through the centuries remind me of logic paths in a modern computer. Regards Antoine. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08538035338431152912noreply@blogger.com